Qatar ignored calls to end terror funding: Saudi FM

LONDON, June 18, 2017

Doha failed to adhere to repeated requests, sent out in 2013 and 2014, to end its support of terrorism and extremism, and involvement in conflicts in the region, said Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, according to a media report.

He said the decision taken by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, and Egypt to sever ties with Doha was taken to send a message to Doha, WAM, the Emirates news agency added, citing the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

"We consider Qatar an ally in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), countries and we do not seek to harm Qatari citizens, but the current situation must be corrected. Doha cannot continue its current policy and must stop financing terrorism,” Al-Jubeir said.

He said that he was going to address and explain to the Qataris all the points led to the current diplomatic crisis, hoping that Doha would address these issues.

He highlighted that Saudi Arabia's hosting of the historic Arab Islamic American Summit brought together the US and a number of Muslim and Arab countries with the aim of better dialogue between Arab and Islamic countries and their counterparts in the West.

The GCC countries have partnered with the US in the fight against the financing of terrorism, a move that is of great importance in the efforts to drain the sources of funding of terrorist organisations and extremist groups all, Al-Jubeir added.

The minister also referred to the situation in Yemen, where expressed the Kingdom's concern on the siege imposed by Houthi groups in some areas, causing famine and hindering the arrival of medical and food aid, the report said.

He pointed out that the coalition forces are working to lift the siege and reach the needy as soon as possible.

According to Al-Jubeir, the Saudi government has allocated $800 million to address the crisis through the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Aid.

He explained that the Kingdom hosted a reconstruction conference in Yemen in cooperation with the World Bank and allocated over $10 billion for these efforts.

Al-Jubeir said that the end of the Syrian crisis would be attained via a political solution in accordance with the First Geneva Declaration and the UNSC Resolution No. 2254.

The minister reiterated Saudi Arabia's commitment to fighting and defeating Daesh in Syria and throughout the world.

He also reiterated the support of the Kingdom for steps taken by the Iraqi government to fight against the terrorist organisation and welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi who will visit Saudi Arabia next Monday to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to develop them.

The Saudi foreign minister also highlighted that the Iranian regime continues to ignite violence by intervening in the affairs of various countries in the region, supporting terrorist groups in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain, and planting Iranian Revolutionary Guards in Syria and Iraq in blatant violation of international laws and norms.

He said that Iran should act as a committed state if it wanted to return to the international community, should halt its aggressive actions and support of militias. He expressed his pessimism concerning the regime in Tehran changing its approach to regional and international affairs.

As for Libya, Al-Jubeir explained that the Kingdom is coordinating with its international partners to restore the country's stability and not to allow the spread of terrorism in Libya and Africa.